My Life Verse

Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Tonight we ate dinner with our Ukrainian friends.They had a friend visiting them from Germany too.We had a wonderful meal and fellowship. Sarah madea new friend. What a duzhe dobre(very good) evening.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Deborah and I have been out all day visiting Baptistchurches. We went to 7 churches introducing ourselvesand trying to get the churches involved in local missions. I met some really nice people and had a fewgreat conversations. I even was surprised to see a fewpeople I knew at some of the churches. It was a goodbut tiring day. This must be what salesmen go through.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Leah and I got up and went to Clarkston today.First we went over to the apartment to see thechildren. A team from North Carolina is here thisweek doing a Vacation Bible School with them. Itold the girls that they had to dance for their lunch. We left there and went to check on an African Mom who is having some trouble. Hopefully we got a few things taken care of for her.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

We had Benjamin today. I was able to catch up on paperwork type stuff and to start doing some lesson plans for school for Leah and Deborah.

I have been trying hard to stay ahead because of theHonduras mission trip. Yes, we are going. Theregion that we are going to is stable. The city we areflying into is not where the military is at. Once we are in the country we are going into a remote mountainregion. Everything should be fine there. We have a greatteam and we are meeting weekly now since we leave in only45 days from today. I always like to have the house in order before I go. It is especially important for me thistime since I am going later in the year and it will be time for school to start back.

Some people have expressed concern over the fact that I amgoing on a short term mission trip and doing missions as ajob. I do not feel that when God called me to work withNorth American Mission Board that He ask me to stop doingshort term trips. I believe that everyone should do ALLthat God has called them to do!! I believe that being involved in short term missions continues to allow me theopportunity to broaden my world perspective. It allows meto see cultures first hand of people that I work with, tounderstand where they are coming from when they come toAmerica. It allows me to be immersed in the culture andhelps me to learn their language. I prayed alot about mydecision to go on a trip this year. At first, I declinedseveral trips, one going back to Ukraine- a place where I feel I have built relationships and have "family." Whenthe opportunity came up for me to go on a 1 week trip toHonduras I prayed about what to do. I felt God's callingto go. Many of the families that we work with in Chambleeare from Honduras. I knew it would be a shorter, lessexpensive trip, and I thought it would be a real God givenopportunity for me to see where some of "my families"come from and learn about their country and serve in theircountry.

My desire in all that I do is to be obedient to what Godhas ask of me knowing that one day I will stand before Himand give an account of my life to Him and what He ask of me!

This is for Grandma and Papa! It is Bill Gabbard singing in one of the groups that he sings in called Brethren on July 19th at a church in Richmond, Va. He posted it on facebook this morning. I thought you would enjoy it. For those of you who don't know, Bill is married to Mark's cousin and is a professional singer for the U.S. Army. Bill is in the center.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

We just got home from having a great day of funand fellowship in Clarkston at the apartments wherewe helped with the Family Fun Day for the residents.Mark, Leah, Deborah, and I helped with drinks and inflatables. It was great fun to see all the peoplefrom many nations out having a fun time. We saw manyof the children we work with but also their families.God provided the best weather possible today. It wasonly 80 degrees and we had a cool breeze. Who would have known that it was July in Atlanta! Of course there was lots of hotdogs, popcorn, cotton candy, andwatermelon. Mr.Bennett even got in on the fun andwent into the dunk tank.

About Me

I am native of Atlanta, Georgia. I was raised in a Christian home with great parents and 2 brothers. I have been married since 1983. My husband Mark and I have six biological children - Rachel, David, Hannah, Sarah, Leah, and Deborah. In 2014 my son married Maricela and I gained a daughter and 2 grand-daughters Ashley and Fatima. We are active members of First Baptist Church of Atlanta where Mark and I met in 1982. I am active in Choir, Sunday School, and World Missions. I participated in the Atlanta Passion Play for 28 years. I am now serving as the Director of the International Village in Atlanta, for Youth Outreach United, working primarily in apartment ministry with refugees and immigrants. I love World Missions and have been to Spain, Morocco, Ukraine, Honduras, and Belarus. We home-schooled all 6 of our children. I am a RN with experience in Neonatal ICU and Newborn Nursery.